The Winter Court
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2020 11:57 am
The Winter Court
The winters of Rokugan bathe its landscapes in a sea of snow, hampering agriculture, trade, and travel. While farmers and merchants take refuge from the cold in their homes, the aristocratic elite take part in the time-honored tradition of the annual Winter Court, the most important social event in Rokugan. This event stems from the Emperor’s desire to bring the Great Clan leaders together to hear their sovereign’s vision for the coming year and plan its implementation. The Winter Court is a lengthy affair, commencing the first week of the Month of the Boar and ending when the first cherry blossom blooms, a few months later.
Location, Invitations, and Preparations
The Winter Court’s location is decided during the last week of winter, immediately following the end of the preceding Winter Court. The Emperor then carefully considers how to word each invitation to communicate favor, present the agenda and goals for that year’s event, and prevent undue animosity or offence between clans. Once the invitation list and wording is decided, the hosting daimyō begins sending invitations, each sealed by Imperial scribes.
Tradition dictates that each of the Great Clans receive thirty invitations that may be distributed amongst their leading families and vassal clans. Each attendee is expected to bring a small number of attendants, yōjimbō, and servants (although the size of the venue may force some of these retainers to stay in the communities surrounding the palace). The Emperor may reserve several invitations for smaller clans, individual samurai who attract notice, and in the rarest circumstances, even rōnin. Over the following months, nobles work to improve their clan’s standing. Often, less established clans seeking recognition barter with invited daimyō for inclusion, offering favors, gifts, or even stipends in exchange for an invitation. No price is too great to attend Winter Court, thanks to the deals and social standing that can be gained there.
Meanwhile, schedule preparations commence in earnest. Daimyō face pressure to create unique experiences that outdo those of previous Winter Courts, often paying homage to Winter Courts of old, bringing back older events with new twists. However, organizers who plagiarize events risk scandal, as this may be seen as challenging the previous organizer’s honor. For instance, in 1109, host Asako Tokawa, too preoccupied with a torrid affair, accidentally duplicated several events of the previous year’s Winter Court. His family bears the shame of the mistake to this day.
Left Behind
Daimyō who are not invited to the Imperial Winter Court often hold their own court. These lesser affairs provide similar opportunities to strategize with neighboring leaders and samurai, even if less prestigious. Shiro Hanzoku of the northern Crane provinces hosts one such event. Daimyō Doji Tsuyo, a relative newcomer to the political stage, organizes the festival for Crane nobles, allowing him to ingratiate himself with those of higher standing.
Events
Banquets, political engagements, and private meetings allow guests to verbally spar with rivals and forge new alliances. Games and challenges keep samurai entertained, and festivities allow nobles to socialize with the Rokugani elite
Event organizers research their participants well in advance, establishing the desires of each attendee. Planners then design each event with painstaking effort, ensuring they satisfy the experiential thirsts of each participant. Ceremonies honor the deeds of individuals across the realm, while musical performances warm the hearts of participants. Political meetings aimed at settling disputes or brokering alliances occur daily, while nightly banquets satisfy the appetites of event-weary participants and provide nobles time to bond over their experiences
The Business of Winter Court
Each day at Winter Court after a hearty breakfast, the Emperor issues decisions, decrees, and rulings covering a host of issues. Afterward, courtiers engage in a multitude of separate political discussions, trade negotiations, and backroom deals. The agendas for these meetings may include issues of diplomacy, finance, logistics, and war, among others
Courtiers may also bring new issues to the Emperor at this time. Property claims, territory and trade disputes, proclamation of new laws and treaties, and business relating to the defense of the Kaiu Wall get preferential treatment when new business comes before the Emperor. Anyone who can silence the bickering between Crane and Lion Clan members quickly earns favor with the Emperor and any number of annoyed nobles.
Social Entertainment and Events
Winter Court also features tea ceremonies, lunches, lavish dinners, and performances, including at least one formal gathering per week. At these formal events, guests don their most exquisite attire, hoping to advance socially or even impress the Emperor. Fashion-conscious nobles set the Winter Court abuzz in unique garments and gowns, setting the trends for the year to come
Other events include everything from masked gatherings where guests wear elaborate guises to poetry readings in snow-swept gardens full of artful ice sculptures. Plays, acrobatic performances, and music recitals play out under the backdrop of social pleasantries. Artisans shine in this environment, their masterpieces on dis-play. Gifted orators and storytellers entertain audiences at evening banquets, bringing news and creating excitement among patrons eager to hear their tales. Scribes and writers seize the opportunity to communicate their concerns or offer support on political issues, hiding their meaning in poignant verse. However, there are risks in performing for such an august audience—a catastrophic performance in front of the Emperor is likely to result in an appointment to an “extremely vital” post in some far-flung corner of the Empire or selection as an envoy to a particularly distant part of the world.
Contests and Games
Winter Court offers numerous games of chance, skill, and strategy, often organized into tournaments. Archery competitions, hunting trips, swordplay tournaments, and sumai wrestling matches are available. Each game emphasizes friendly competition, allowing guests an opportunity to relax and refocus before returning to their official duties
Events that challenge the athletic abilities of attendees are popular, such as kemari, a ball-passing game requiring agile feet, and others favored by the host’s clan. Shugenja compete in challenges that test their influence on the five elemental forces, while spirited courtiers compete in sadane, a game in which contestants take turns exchanging clever insults while maintaining composure. Strategic board games like Go and shōgi also keep the more cerebral visitors engaged
Winners gain the title of Winter Court Champion for that event, earning all the glory that comes with their title. Sometimes, winning comes with additional duties at the next Winter Court, which offers further opportunities to gain favor from the Emperor. Most competitors revere such accolades, and winners make every effort to defend their title the following year
Ceremonies and Festivals
The Kangei Ceremony of Welcoming opens each Winter Court. Not limited to the grounds of the hosting kyūden, the ceremony spills forth as a week-long celebration throughout the castle town, pulling all inhabitants into the atmosphere of revelry. During the ceremony proper (which occurs on the first day, after all guests have arrived), each guest is announced, including the clan champions, and they present themselves before the Emperor for acknowledgment. The champions then address the assembly, often setting the tone for the next few months
Festivals celebrating historical events, individual achievements, or religious occasions occur sporadically. Other ceremonial events, including gempuku; coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, and services honoring those lost throughout the year, are common-place. One especially important event is the Greeting of the Spirits, at which the hosting daimyō honors the spirits presiding over the kyūden and its guests. In a traditional ceremony near the beginning of Winter Court, the host bathes in purifying hot springs or walks barefoot across fiery coals to signify their cleansing by flame. The event quickly turns into a social gathering, serving as an icebreaker for those new to the Winter Court
Dinner of the Stalking Tiger
A festival called Shouting Day occurs during the last week of Winter Court as part of its closing ceremonies. On Shouting Day, peasants scream their complaints to Osano-wo, the Fortune of Fire and Thunder. This takes place during the Dinner of the Stalking Tiger, organized for the nobility and samurai to honor of the peasants in thanks for their efforts throughout the year. The attendees dine on a humble meal of steamed vegetables and rice. Assigned seating ideally pro-motes cooperation between clans. However, all guests must remain silent, respecting the messages to Osano-wo being screamed by peasants throughout the realm. Breaking this silence is considered very disrespectful and results in immediate expulsion from the evening’s activities.
Court of Lies
While the Winter Court might seem like a strange place to use shinobi, it is actually very common for courtiers to employ covert agents. At the behest of would-be kingmakers, shinobi employ their singular skills to surveil targets, procure private documents, intimidate rivals, and put words in the right ear. Some courtiers stoop to using assassins who lurk between alleyways and rooftops, interrogators who specialize in information extraction, and even practitioners of evil sorcery capable of carving details from a person’s mind. The Winter Court might seem placid, but beneath the courteous façade, it is a battlefield where the fates of clans are decided and the wise use every tool at their disposal to ensure their success
During Winter Court, each clan likely has several spies hidden within their retinue. Since direct covert interaction is usually impossible in crowded venues, operatives use secret sign languages and ciphered speech to communicate, and they leave behind carefully coded messages in everything from the poems passed during the Game of Letters to the artful flower arrangements placed on display each day
The winters of Rokugan bathe its landscapes in a sea of snow, hampering agriculture, trade, and travel. While farmers and merchants take refuge from the cold in their homes, the aristocratic elite take part in the time-honored tradition of the annual Winter Court, the most important social event in Rokugan. This event stems from the Emperor’s desire to bring the Great Clan leaders together to hear their sovereign’s vision for the coming year and plan its implementation. The Winter Court is a lengthy affair, commencing the first week of the Month of the Boar and ending when the first cherry blossom blooms, a few months later.
Location, Invitations, and Preparations
The Winter Court’s location is decided during the last week of winter, immediately following the end of the preceding Winter Court. The Emperor then carefully considers how to word each invitation to communicate favor, present the agenda and goals for that year’s event, and prevent undue animosity or offence between clans. Once the invitation list and wording is decided, the hosting daimyō begins sending invitations, each sealed by Imperial scribes.
Tradition dictates that each of the Great Clans receive thirty invitations that may be distributed amongst their leading families and vassal clans. Each attendee is expected to bring a small number of attendants, yōjimbō, and servants (although the size of the venue may force some of these retainers to stay in the communities surrounding the palace). The Emperor may reserve several invitations for smaller clans, individual samurai who attract notice, and in the rarest circumstances, even rōnin. Over the following months, nobles work to improve their clan’s standing. Often, less established clans seeking recognition barter with invited daimyō for inclusion, offering favors, gifts, or even stipends in exchange for an invitation. No price is too great to attend Winter Court, thanks to the deals and social standing that can be gained there.
Meanwhile, schedule preparations commence in earnest. Daimyō face pressure to create unique experiences that outdo those of previous Winter Courts, often paying homage to Winter Courts of old, bringing back older events with new twists. However, organizers who plagiarize events risk scandal, as this may be seen as challenging the previous organizer’s honor. For instance, in 1109, host Asako Tokawa, too preoccupied with a torrid affair, accidentally duplicated several events of the previous year’s Winter Court. His family bears the shame of the mistake to this day.
Left Behind
Daimyō who are not invited to the Imperial Winter Court often hold their own court. These lesser affairs provide similar opportunities to strategize with neighboring leaders and samurai, even if less prestigious. Shiro Hanzoku of the northern Crane provinces hosts one such event. Daimyō Doji Tsuyo, a relative newcomer to the political stage, organizes the festival for Crane nobles, allowing him to ingratiate himself with those of higher standing.
Events
Banquets, political engagements, and private meetings allow guests to verbally spar with rivals and forge new alliances. Games and challenges keep samurai entertained, and festivities allow nobles to socialize with the Rokugani elite
Event organizers research their participants well in advance, establishing the desires of each attendee. Planners then design each event with painstaking effort, ensuring they satisfy the experiential thirsts of each participant. Ceremonies honor the deeds of individuals across the realm, while musical performances warm the hearts of participants. Political meetings aimed at settling disputes or brokering alliances occur daily, while nightly banquets satisfy the appetites of event-weary participants and provide nobles time to bond over their experiences
The Business of Winter Court
Each day at Winter Court after a hearty breakfast, the Emperor issues decisions, decrees, and rulings covering a host of issues. Afterward, courtiers engage in a multitude of separate political discussions, trade negotiations, and backroom deals. The agendas for these meetings may include issues of diplomacy, finance, logistics, and war, among others
Courtiers may also bring new issues to the Emperor at this time. Property claims, territory and trade disputes, proclamation of new laws and treaties, and business relating to the defense of the Kaiu Wall get preferential treatment when new business comes before the Emperor. Anyone who can silence the bickering between Crane and Lion Clan members quickly earns favor with the Emperor and any number of annoyed nobles.
Social Entertainment and Events
Winter Court also features tea ceremonies, lunches, lavish dinners, and performances, including at least one formal gathering per week. At these formal events, guests don their most exquisite attire, hoping to advance socially or even impress the Emperor. Fashion-conscious nobles set the Winter Court abuzz in unique garments and gowns, setting the trends for the year to come
Other events include everything from masked gatherings where guests wear elaborate guises to poetry readings in snow-swept gardens full of artful ice sculptures. Plays, acrobatic performances, and music recitals play out under the backdrop of social pleasantries. Artisans shine in this environment, their masterpieces on dis-play. Gifted orators and storytellers entertain audiences at evening banquets, bringing news and creating excitement among patrons eager to hear their tales. Scribes and writers seize the opportunity to communicate their concerns or offer support on political issues, hiding their meaning in poignant verse. However, there are risks in performing for such an august audience—a catastrophic performance in front of the Emperor is likely to result in an appointment to an “extremely vital” post in some far-flung corner of the Empire or selection as an envoy to a particularly distant part of the world.
Contests and Games
Winter Court offers numerous games of chance, skill, and strategy, often organized into tournaments. Archery competitions, hunting trips, swordplay tournaments, and sumai wrestling matches are available. Each game emphasizes friendly competition, allowing guests an opportunity to relax and refocus before returning to their official duties
Events that challenge the athletic abilities of attendees are popular, such as kemari, a ball-passing game requiring agile feet, and others favored by the host’s clan. Shugenja compete in challenges that test their influence on the five elemental forces, while spirited courtiers compete in sadane, a game in which contestants take turns exchanging clever insults while maintaining composure. Strategic board games like Go and shōgi also keep the more cerebral visitors engaged
Winners gain the title of Winter Court Champion for that event, earning all the glory that comes with their title. Sometimes, winning comes with additional duties at the next Winter Court, which offers further opportunities to gain favor from the Emperor. Most competitors revere such accolades, and winners make every effort to defend their title the following year
Ceremonies and Festivals
The Kangei Ceremony of Welcoming opens each Winter Court. Not limited to the grounds of the hosting kyūden, the ceremony spills forth as a week-long celebration throughout the castle town, pulling all inhabitants into the atmosphere of revelry. During the ceremony proper (which occurs on the first day, after all guests have arrived), each guest is announced, including the clan champions, and they present themselves before the Emperor for acknowledgment. The champions then address the assembly, often setting the tone for the next few months
Festivals celebrating historical events, individual achievements, or religious occasions occur sporadically. Other ceremonial events, including gempuku; coming-of-age ceremonies, weddings, and services honoring those lost throughout the year, are common-place. One especially important event is the Greeting of the Spirits, at which the hosting daimyō honors the spirits presiding over the kyūden and its guests. In a traditional ceremony near the beginning of Winter Court, the host bathes in purifying hot springs or walks barefoot across fiery coals to signify their cleansing by flame. The event quickly turns into a social gathering, serving as an icebreaker for those new to the Winter Court
Dinner of the Stalking Tiger
A festival called Shouting Day occurs during the last week of Winter Court as part of its closing ceremonies. On Shouting Day, peasants scream their complaints to Osano-wo, the Fortune of Fire and Thunder. This takes place during the Dinner of the Stalking Tiger, organized for the nobility and samurai to honor of the peasants in thanks for their efforts throughout the year. The attendees dine on a humble meal of steamed vegetables and rice. Assigned seating ideally pro-motes cooperation between clans. However, all guests must remain silent, respecting the messages to Osano-wo being screamed by peasants throughout the realm. Breaking this silence is considered very disrespectful and results in immediate expulsion from the evening’s activities.
Court of Lies
While the Winter Court might seem like a strange place to use shinobi, it is actually very common for courtiers to employ covert agents. At the behest of would-be kingmakers, shinobi employ their singular skills to surveil targets, procure private documents, intimidate rivals, and put words in the right ear. Some courtiers stoop to using assassins who lurk between alleyways and rooftops, interrogators who specialize in information extraction, and even practitioners of evil sorcery capable of carving details from a person’s mind. The Winter Court might seem placid, but beneath the courteous façade, it is a battlefield where the fates of clans are decided and the wise use every tool at their disposal to ensure their success
During Winter Court, each clan likely has several spies hidden within their retinue. Since direct covert interaction is usually impossible in crowded venues, operatives use secret sign languages and ciphered speech to communicate, and they leave behind carefully coded messages in everything from the poems passed during the Game of Letters to the artful flower arrangements placed on display each day